The Annunciation To Joseph

In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. Matthew 1:18-25

As we previously discussed in chapter one, Joseph and Mary are returning to Joseph's place of birth, Bethlehem, for the census called by the Emperor. They are on a five-day journey, and it is hot, and there are not many places for rest. Along the way, they would seek to find a Jewish family who was supposed to show them hospitality according to God's word. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2:2

As formerly mentioned, because Joseph was of the house and lineage of King David, he would have had to return to his ancestral home Bethlehem, for this census. This call meant a long and arduous journey taking several days, only traveling 10 to 15 miles per day. And Mary being great with child and very near to giving birth would only make this trip that much more difficult than it would typically have been. They would have most likely traveled with a caravan of relatives and friends for safety rather than traveling alone. They would face even more difficulties once they did reach Bethlehem. Because of the census, Bethlehem's population would swell from thirty thousand to One Hundred thousand or more. This increase in people meant all available lodging space was taken up, and there would be no room in the Inn for them. And for a mother about to give birth, this would have to be the worst news possible.

And just like Mary, I know Joseph's mind must have reflected during this 5-day journey to that visit from the Angel Gabriel dispatched from the very throne room of God to inform Joseph of God's plan for him and Mary and the child she now carries. Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

You could say that just in time, the Angel Gabriel delivers God's message to Joseph because, as we learned in chapter one, there is a severe problem with this engagement. Mary is found to be pregnant, and Joseph knows he is not the father of this child. Will Joseph allow Mary to be stoned to death?

The Bible tells us that Joseph is a righteous man who would divorce her quietly so Mary would not be Stoned to death. As stated in the previous chapter, he would pay the Ca tuba pledge providing for her care until she married again. He still loved her, but he could not understand how she could do something so, not keeping with her character. Could you imagine being Joseph and the woman you are engaged to be married to is pregnant, and you know you are not the father? And as if that is not bad enough, when you ask her who the father is, she says God is. I know we, just like Joseph, would have to take a step back and think this thing through. We are told in the scriptures that Joseph went home went to sleep to consider what to do about this. While he was sleeping, the same Angel, Gabriel, who brought Mary the news, informed Joseph about the child Mary, his pregnant spouse, was carrying. In a vision, we are told that this child was not the product of adultery, but this child was put there by God the Holy Spirit, and he should not hesitate to take Mary as his wife. The angel instructs him to name this child Jesus, meaning he would "save his people from their sins. Also, Emanuel means, God with us."

After Joseph hears this, he no longer has any more reservations about taking Mary to be his wife, and he does so immediately. However, he did not consummate the marriage until after the child was born. He then, just as the angel says, gave him the name Jesus

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